The firm reported that it had trimmed 9,000 jobs since October, on top of 6,000 cut earlier last year.

The company has trimmed more than 16,000 jobs from its payroll during the past two years and shifted 21,000 other workers to new positions.

The cutbacks trimmed 1,400 jobs, or 12 percent of the work force.

British Steel, which employs 51,500 people, trimmed 2,000 jobs in the latest year and plans to continue to reduce its costs, a spokesman said.

Software Publishing said that during the next 90 days it would trim 240 jobs, or 50 percent of its work force.

United said this month that it would trim 2,800 jobs from all levels with the goal of saving about $400 million a year.

Those and other measures would trim 4,700 jobs from the state work force.

The changes approved by the commission would trim 2,500 jobs and save $112 million each year.

Norfolk Southern plans to trim 5,000 jobs by 1990.

It has also trimmed 500 jobs, and executives said more cuts might be made.